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(C)Overt epistemic modality and its perspectival effects on the textual surface

  • Sonja Zeman
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Modes of Modality
This chapter is in the book Modes of Modality

Abstract

With an eye on the universal status of modality, the paper focuses on covert and overt grammatical coding of epistemic modality and its perspectival effects on the textual surface. Based on a theoretical discussion concerning the core principle of root vs. epistemic modality, it is argued that the grammatical structure of epistemic modality is reflected on the sentence level, on the textual surface, and within narrative discourse, and thus is manifested in a recursive manner on different levels of linguistic structure. In consequence, it is claimed that the universal status of modality can be pinned down not only cross-linguistically, but also within the language itself. En passant, the alignment of linguistic micro- and macro-structure sheds light on the basic question what modality is about in its core meaning.

Abstract

With an eye on the universal status of modality, the paper focuses on covert and overt grammatical coding of epistemic modality and its perspectival effects on the textual surface. Based on a theoretical discussion concerning the core principle of root vs. epistemic modality, it is argued that the grammatical structure of epistemic modality is reflected on the sentence level, on the textual surface, and within narrative discourse, and thus is manifested in a recursive manner on different levels of linguistic structure. In consequence, it is claimed that the universal status of modality can be pinned down not only cross-linguistically, but also within the language itself. En passant, the alignment of linguistic micro- and macro-structure sheds light on the basic question what modality is about in its core meaning.

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Introduction 1
  4. Part I. Formal properties of modality
  5. 1 Formal properties of modality
  6. Interpreting modals by phase heads 19
  7. Evidentiality straddling T- and C-domains 43
  8. Part II. Typological surveys
  9. The syntax of modal polyfunctionality revisited 89
  10. Mora da as a marker of modal meanings in Macedonian 127
  11. Modal semantics and morphosyntax of the Latvian DEBITIVE 167
  12. Deontic or epistemic? habēre as a modal marker of future certainty in Macedonian 193
  13. Epistemic, evidential and attitudinal markers in clause-medial position in Cantonese 219
  14. Part III. Interfaces between mood and modality
  15. Modal particles in rationale clauses and related constructions 263
  16. Modal particles in causal clauses 291
  17. Part IV. Modality conceptualizations
  18. Enablement and possibility 319
  19. The modal category of sufficiency 353
  20. Part V. Diachronic derivation
  21. From agent-oriented modality to sequential 379
  22. Part VI. Covert modality
  23. A rare case of covert modality 409
  24. (C)Overt epistemic modality and its perspectival effects on the textual surface 457
  25. Dimensions of implicit modality in Igbo 485
  26. Index 507
https://doi.org/10.1075/slcs.149.15zem

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Introduction 1
  4. Part I. Formal properties of modality
  5. 1 Formal properties of modality
  6. Interpreting modals by phase heads 19
  7. Evidentiality straddling T- and C-domains 43
  8. Part II. Typological surveys
  9. The syntax of modal polyfunctionality revisited 89
  10. Mora da as a marker of modal meanings in Macedonian 127
  11. Modal semantics and morphosyntax of the Latvian DEBITIVE 167
  12. Deontic or epistemic? habēre as a modal marker of future certainty in Macedonian 193
  13. Epistemic, evidential and attitudinal markers in clause-medial position in Cantonese 219
  14. Part III. Interfaces between mood and modality
  15. Modal particles in rationale clauses and related constructions 263
  16. Modal particles in causal clauses 291
  17. Part IV. Modality conceptualizations
  18. Enablement and possibility 319
  19. The modal category of sufficiency 353
  20. Part V. Diachronic derivation
  21. From agent-oriented modality to sequential 379
  22. Part VI. Covert modality
  23. A rare case of covert modality 409
  24. (C)Overt epistemic modality and its perspectival effects on the textual surface 457
  25. Dimensions of implicit modality in Igbo 485
  26. Index 507
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